Where to find solitude

However, I do believe that amongst a large group of people, it is easy to distract ourselves from our inner life. After all, looking inwards is not very comfortable. Accessibility statement Skip to main content We need your help: All banner donations made today will support The Daily's new staff financial aid program. Characterised by magnificent, stop-dead-in-your-tracks scenery, the Scottish Highlands are one of the last remaining pockets of Europe where solitude-seekers can enjoy invigorating isolation.

The population density of this rugged region is 0. Some people find solitude at secluded beaches, spiritual retreats, or quaint, mountainside cabins. Regardless of which route you choose and how long you spend on the trail, life on the Camino is refreshingly simple: wake, walk, eat, sleep. This uncomplicated, unhurried routine makes it easy to find ample time for stillness and introspection while being fully present in every moment.

For genuine solitude, what better destination to choose than Finland — a nation with introverted tendencies ingrained into its culture. Students do not have that kind of time. I keep my laptop shut down at the airport.

I hang out in the library. For Austin, he finds solitude in the bus ride, a barbershop or the airport. Even if you can not get to a bike trail or your only get away is the library it is still possible to take a moment and find your solitude. Taking time to disconnect does not mean adding something to your day.

The key is to dissect apart your daily routine and tweak your actions and not cram solitude into your free time. You can find peace in your surroundings wherever you are: that includes the hospital white walls of your dorm room. For more inspiring poetry check out anything that Mary Oliver has ever written, and more for on creative ways to tweak your life check out Steal Like An Artist. I love long podcasts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and occasionally I write stuff or take photos. Sign in.

The real benefits of solitude cannot be expressed through words, but must be found in doing. Take every means of connecting with others, and sever them. Disconnect from email, from Facebook and Twitter and MySpace, from forums and social media, from instant messaging and Skype, from news websites and blogs.

Turn off your mobile device and phones. Holing yourself up. Or it can be done at home, by finding a quiet space, shutting the door if you can, or using headphones. The key is to find a way to shut out the outside world, including co-workers or those who live with you.